Families of BDR victims form human chain at Raju Sculpture

They demand the release of all innocent BDR members who were arrested en masse

Family members of the BDR personnel accused in the Pilkhana massacre have formed a human chain on Dhaka streets, to push for a three-point list of demands including a reinvestigation of the incident and the release of “innocent jawans”.

On Sunday, they gathered at the Raju Sculpture at Dhaka University.

Mahin Sarkar, central member and former coordinator of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, said: "We stand for justice for the aggrieved BDR members, most of whom have been wronged. This is very painful and distressing. Why do we have to protest? This is a mass demand.”

"A commission has been formed in the wake of our demands, and one of its terms of reference states that those who have been found guilty will remain guilty. So what is the point of reinvestigation?"

He called for the immediate release of the detained Bangladesh Rifles, or BRD, members, along with a proper trial to bring the perpetrators of the killings to justice.

Mahin also demanded the rehabilitation and reinstatement of the affected members of the now-defunct BDR force.

The relatives participating in the human chain outlined three key demands.

First, they urged authorities to identify those responsible for the 74 murders, including the brutal killing of 57 army officers at Pilkhana, and to ensure swift and exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.

Second, they demanded the release of all innocent BDR members who were arrested en masse, many of whom were dismissed through proceedings in 18 special courts. They called for the reinstatement of all government benefits and facilities for the dismissed personnel, restoring their jobs.

The third demand from the demonstrators was the repeal of Section 2(e) cited in the notification regarding the investigation commission. They argued that removing this clause is essential for the commission to operate independently, impartially, and without fear or influence.A total of 74 people, including 57 army officers, were killed in a bloody mutiny at the BGB Headquarters in Pilkhana on Feb 25 and 26, 2009, sending shock waves around the world.

Following the tragedy, the Bangladesh Rifles frontier force was rechristened as Border Guard Bangladesh, or BGB, and its logo and uniform were changed.

While mutiny-related trials took place in BGB courts, the killings were tried in conventional courts.

In the two cases - one for murder and another under the Explosive Substances Act - 468 BDR members remain imprisoned despite serving time for murder due to pending explosives charges.

The murder trial concluded on Nov 5, 2013, with 152 individuals sentenced to death, 160 to life imprisonment, and 256 to varying prison terms, while 278 were acquitted.

The High Court upheld 139 death sentences, sentenced 185 to life imprisonment, and handed down varying sentences to 228 others in 2017.

The appeals and leave to appeals are now awaiting hearings.

Meanwhile, the explosives charges trial, initiated in 2010, was paused midway through to focus on the murder trial, leaving the proceedings incomplete.

Following a change in government, there has been renewed demand to restart the investigation into the 2009 BDR mutiny. On Dec 19, 2024, family members of the victims submitted their grievances to the International Crimes Tribunal, urging authorities to revisit the case and ensure justice.

In response, the government formed a commission on Dec 24, 2024, led by ALM Fazlur Rahman, to reinvestigate the massacre that occurred 15 years ago.

The commission has been given a 90-day deadline to complete its inquiry and provide recommendations.

On Jan 8, families of dismissed BDR members and those still imprisoned gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar to voice their grievances.

The demonstrators formed a human chain, demanding the reinstatement of the dismissed personnel and the immediate release of those who remain behind bars.

As part of their pre-announced programme, the group began a march towards State Guest House Jamuna, the official residence of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, to submit a memorandum detailing their demands.

However, their march was interrupted by police, preventing them from completing their planned demonstration.